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F101 News

The big event in November has been the last Tribal Gathering of 2018. Sailed from the Pro Vela site in Mar De Crystal, Mar Menor, Spain. Sailors travelled from the USA, Canada, Holland, Spain, Norway, Argentina and GBR. Training took place on the Friday, followed by racing and coaching over the weekend. As the sailors were of mixed foiling experience the courses / coaching was designed to allow everyone to improve their foiling skills, as well as race.

Racing on Saturday and Sunday followed the usual Tribal Gathering format of the racing window being communicated via the Tribe WhatsApp group for the event. With the window suiting the conditions it allowed sailors, friends and family to maximise their time in Spain by either sailing, doing other activities or socialising.

Those that wanted to talk foiling technology were not disappointed as Ron Price, designer of the Whisper and F101 was on-site with the Tribe for the full gathering.

Check out why Tribal gatherings are different to any normal sailing event via Rob's interview with yachtsandyachting.com below.

This Tribal gathering event also allowed sailors to sail in the number of races that suited them, whilst still enabling them get a score. The Warrior prizes went to those who sailed every race and the Tribe trophy to those who teamed up with a friend and alternated the races, whilst having a well earned rest from the comfort of the committee boat.

After eighteen fun packed short, sharp races, sailed over two days, Jerry Hill was crowned Chief of the F101 Tribe at the last Tribal gathering of 2018. As he sailed all races, he also took the Warrior title. Martijn Buitenhaus and Rebecca Taylor sailing alternate races were second overall and first in the Tribe category with John Iglehart coming third overall and second in the Warrior category. Simon Perry (image below) picked up the top speed of the weekend to round out the prizes!

Jerry Hill crowned Chief of the Tribe for overall win at final 2018Tribal gathering.

Jerry Hill was somewhat surprised by his win (as were the TRIBE!) having just taken delivery of his new boat in Spain. Jerry stated...

"I didn’t really expect to do so well considering the company I was in, but keeping the boat on the foils, not making mistakes and plenty of righting moment seemed to do the trick quite nicely…I suspect it may be difficult to hang on to the trophy long term as everyone is on a really steep learning curve improving their foiling skills."

Up and foiling for the first time!Congratulations to John Gronan who got up and foiling for the first time in an F101 with our Foiling World coaches Alan and Rob! Perfect timing as it was just in time for the start of the Tribal gathering race weekend, go John...

New North America dealership signed.Foiling World are also pleased to announce that John's company, Topper Sailboats Canada, have been appointed F101 dealer for North America with their F101 dealer agreement being signed during the Tribal gathering.

The all new camera bracket.

Trialled at the Tribal gathering this is now available as an option on the F101. It features a new rudder stock pin linked to a carbon tube and a printed fitting that then allows Go-Pro or Garmin Virbs to be fitted. Happy filming!

Top speeds caught on camera.

With these cameras having a speed channel we will also us this to monitor the speeds attained by our Tribe! Top speed in Mar Menor was 17.4 knots attained by Simon Perry in approximately 12 knots during one of the races at the Tribal gathering.

With an emphasis on foiling and manoeuvres, such as foiling gybes, we have probably not emphasised the launching and landing aspects of the F101 enough. We always set out for the F101 to be similar to launching, say a Laser. The main is hoisted on a halyard, the foils both lift vertically and you get the boat to the water on a launching trolley.

F101 modifications from the Tribe.

With the tribe coming together it was also an opportunity to look at small modifications Tribe members are making to the F101. Straight out of the moth class has come the addition of a piece of elastic to restrict tiller movement. Simply fitted, it provides feedback of increased force as soon as you are using excessive amounts of tiller movement – simple and effective.

Paul Goodison, three-time Moth World Champion had been sailing the F101 on Lake Garda and added this to the Negri Nautica Garda test boat, he then followed the Tribe ethos of simply sharing this to allow all owners to benefit from his world class input into the F101.

Looking to get into foiling?

Refurbished boats for sale.If you want to join the F101 Tribe, then we have some refurbished boats for sale. These will be available in December ready for the 2019 season. Contact info@foiling101.com for details.

The season may be over but the fun doesn't stop for everyone!

Those Tribe member with boats based in Mar Menor in Spain for the winter will most likely take advantage of Pro Vela's awesome winter training deal with a range of training weekends throughout November, December and January.

F101 takes you through your foiling journey, providing a progression pathway from the beginner foiler to the Olympian. F101 sets new challenges and goals at whatever level you come in; from expert to beginner.